Tag holding shelf assembly



May 17, 1960 E. C. STREATER TAG HOLDING SHELF ASSEMBLY Filed May 2, 1958 United States Patent dicev 2,936,904 I TAG HOLDING SHELF ASSEMBLY I Edward C. Streater, Spring Park, Minn., assignor to Streater Industries, Inc., Spring Park, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application May 2, 1958, Serial No. 732,683 4 Claims. (Cl. 211-147) This invention relates to shelf assemblies. More particularly it relates to a tag holding shelf assembly which isself-locking and includes the use of molding strips in a unique manner.

The special molding of the instant invention is intended to be utilized with simple shelving and bracket means having rearwardly biased clamping abutments such as is disclosed and claimed in my co -pending application, S.N. 449,065, filed August 11, 1954, now Patent No. 2,833,420, issued May 6, 1958, and entitled Self-Locking Shelf Bracket.

The moldings of the instant invention together with the shelf to which such moldings are attached, in combination with the brackets disclosed and claimed in my above mentioned co-pending application, S.N. 449,065 comprise the tag holding shelf assembly which is also included in the instant invention.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a shelf assembly which. is simple to construct and erect and will provide improved means for exhibiting the prices of articles on a shelf in a prominent manner at the forward edge of the shelf while at the same time providing support or strength to the shelf panel which supports the articles. 7

A more specific object is to provide a tag holding shelf assembly which includes the use of a pair of moldings at the forward and rear edge of the shelf which will.

cooperate in reinforcing and supporting the shelf member and will also facilitate binning of the articles being displayed. 7

' Another object of the invention is to provide a novel molding strip adapted to engage the forward edge of a shelf and constructed and arranged to cooperatively engage a rearwardly biased molding strip engaging 'ele ment carried by a bracket to hold the shelf in supported,

relation while extending forwardly from a vertical sue face, the molding strip being constructed in a novel manner to receive therein price tags of various lengths in' such a manner as to preclude lateral shifting of the tags. 7

Another object is to provide a novel and improved tag holding shelf assembly which includes the use of a. pair of molding strips having channels therein adapted to re-1 ceive therein a thin shelf member, themolding strips;

being rigid in structure to reinforce the shelfflmember,

each of the molding strips having a. portion thereof ex tending upwardly to an elevation substantially above that of the shelf member to facilitatebinning ofarticles at tion of my assembly, the shelf and the rear molding strip and the price tag molding strip all being held in various points. along the lengthof the shelf, the forward;

most of the molding strips having an abutment engaging surface which cooperatively engages a rearwardly biased abutment member carried by a bracket:

'These and other objects and advantages of the inven; tion' will more fully appear from the following,descrip tion made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to'the same slEig. 1-is a perspective view taken-from below of'asec v orsimilar parts throughout thefiseveral views, 'andin interlocked engagement with the vertical supporting surface by bracket members having rearwardly biased price tag molding strip engaging elements,

'Fig. 2 is a bottom view of my shelving assembly shown segmentally, the relaxed positions of the bracket means being indicated in dotted lines; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a segment of my shelving assembly showing the bracket member in elevation; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the price tag molding strip illustrating the use of the same with a price tag shorter than the price tag illustrated in Fig. 3.

One embodiment of my invention as shown in Figs. 1-4 may include a vertical supporting surface indicated generally at 10. Brackets support members 11 are secured to the vertical surface to provide vertical adjustability for the shelf assembly. It will be noted that the bracket support members 11 are provided with vertically spaced slots 12 into which bracket members 13 may be cooperatively secured therewith in the manner set forth inmy above mentioned cQ-pending application, S.N. 499,065.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the bracket supports 11 may be fastened as by screws 14 to a back panel 15, a portion of which has been grooved or off set at 16 to receive the bracket supports. The bracket supports 11 are vertically positioned and horizontally spaced at convenient intervals which may be associated with the edges of the back panel 15 or may be recessed at intermediate positions with the forwardly facing portion thereof substantially in alignment with the forward surface of the back panel 15 and cooperatively forming the afore mentioned vertical supporting surface 10.

The shelf proper as shown is comprised of a board or panel 17. Because of the ease of handling and the lower cost involved, such panels 17 are preferably formed of a composition material which is relatively or of thin plate glass or of a thin board material. In any event, this material is generally thin and the shelf is normally elongated, with the result that when articles are supported thereby there is a distinct tendency for the shelf to bow'downwardly, become deformed, and

even upon occasion breaking or permitting articles to slip therefrom. As shown, the shelf 17 has an upper supporting surface 18 as shown in Fig. 3 and has a rear edge 19 and a forward edge 20.

Secured to the vertical supporting surface 10 are bracket means 13 which may be comprised of the same type of springymembers disclosed and claimed in my copending application, S.N. 449,065 or some other type of bracket means securable to a vertical supporting surface and capable of supporting a shelf member 17 and securing thesame through the use of a rearwardly biased molding st-rip engaging element.

'Ajsjbest shown in Fig. 3, the bracket member 13 has formedat its outer end portion an upstanding molding strip engaging element or abutment 21. The bracket means 13 are secured as by cars 22 and hooks 23 inserted into the slots 12 of the bracket supports 11. Each of these brackets means 13 have laterally extending abutlax ed position as shown therein. It will be understood,

of course, that other type of bracket means may be utilized provided it employs a forward abutment or price tag molding strip engaging element such as the element 21 which is rearwardly biased to positively secure thetwo moldinglstrips .shown along with the shelf 17 in out-.;

a sess;

wardly and forwardly extending relation to the vertical surface 10.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the self-locking shelf assembly, includes a pair of molding strips one each of which is secured to the rear edge 19. and the forward edge 20 of the panel 17. It will be noted that the panel 17 has a groove 17a formed in the upper surface 18. The forward portion of the panel 17 has a corresponding groove 17b formed in the upper surface 18 adjacent the forward edge 21). Each of these grooves 17a and 17b adapts its respective edge portion to be cooperatively engaged and received a channel of one of the two molding strips hereinbefore referred to. it will be noted that the grooves 17a and 17b provide a dove-tailed configuration to the forward and rearward edge portions of the panel 17.

Secured to the rear edge portion of the panel 17 is an elongated rigid molding strip 25. As shown, this molding strip has a dove-tailed shaped groove 26 which faces forwardly formed therein. The groove defining portions of the molding strip 25 includes a flange member 25a which extends somewhat vertically into the groove 17a and cooperatively secures the molding strip 25 to the rear edge of the panel 17. it will also be noted that the molding strip 25 is provided with an upstanding abutment member 27 which extends upwardly to an elevation well above the upper surface 18 of the panel 17, and is fiat at its back surface to abut against the vertical surface 10. This molding strip 25 extends along thefull length of the panel 17 and is applied to the panel 17 by sliding the same longitudinally thereof from one end of the panel toward the other end.

The second molding strip which comprises a price tag holding molding strip is secured to the forward edge portion of the panel 17 as best illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be noted that this molding strip is also elongated and rigid and extends longitudinally of the shelf member 17. The price tag molding strip which has been indicated generally by the numeral 30 is provided with a rearwardly facing dove-tailed shape groove 31. This groove is partially defined by a flange member 32 which extends. somewhat vertically into the groove 17b of the panel 17 adjacent its forward edge 20. The molding strip 30 is also applied to the forward edge of the panel 17 by sliding the same longitudinally of the shelf with the dove-tailed shaped portion of the panel 17 inserted into the dove-tailed shaped groove 31 of the molding strip 30.

The molding strip 30 is also provided with a down Wardly facing recess 33, one wall 34 of which extends vertically and constitutes an abutment which is engaged by the rearwardly biased abutment member 21 of the brackets 13. The abutment member 21 extends upwardly into the recess 33 and engages the abutment surface 34 when permitted to move toward the relaxed position shown in the broken lines of Fig. 2.

The molding strip 30 is also provided with a frontal forwardly facing tag holding means which includes an elongated recess 35 extending longitudinally of the molding strip. This recess 35 as best shown in Fig. 4 has a bottom area adapted to engage the back side of a price tag such as T. It is also provided with upper and lower edge portions 37 and 38, respectively which may or may not engage the end portions of the price tag to be utilized, depending upon the length of the price tag available or desired to be used.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the recessed area 35 is provided with two pairs of vertically spaced price tag engaging grooves. 7 One pair of these grooves indicated by the numerals 39 and 40 are vertically spaced and positioned within the bottom area 36-while the other pair of grooves 41 and 42 are formed in the upper and lower edge portions of the molding strip. By reference to Fig. 4, it can be readily seen that the plane extending through the pair of grooves 39 and 40 is disposed substantially,

rearwardly of the plane extending between or throughv the. grooves 41 and 42. By referenceto the'same figure, it

will be readily seen thatthese grooves are sharply angled at their bottoms.

It should be noted that the bottom area of the recess is non-uniform in that the portion or surface extending between the grooves 41 and 39 is disposed at a sharp angle to the surface extending between the grooves 39 and 40. Likewise, the surface extending between the groove 38 and 40. is disposed at a sharp angle to the surface extending between the grooves and 39; This can best be seen by reference to Fig. 3 wherein the price tag T is shown prior to and after it has been positioned within the grooves 41 and 42. In order to insert the price tag T, it must first be deformed as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3 with the upper and lower edges or ends thereof inserted into the grooves 41 and 42. The medial portion of the price tag T is then pressed inwardly whereupon after passing dead center, it will assume the deformed configuration shown in solid lines in Fig. 3. The sharp angulation between the surface extending between the grooves 41 and 39 and the surface extending between, the grooves 39 and 48 causes the price tag T to assume the deformed shape shown in Fig. 3, in view of the fact that the price tag T is obviously greater in length than the distance between the pair of grooves 41 and 42. This deformation causes the back side of the price tag T to press firmly against the bottom area 36 so that friction therebetween will preclude lateral shifting of the price tag.

Fig. 4 illustrates a price tag 43 of shorter length and adapted to be inserted in the same manner in the, grooves 39 and 40. The tiny groove 44 which extends longifl tudinally of the molding strip 30 is provided so that when desired, the price tags T or 43 as the case may be, may be easily snapped out of position by inserting the point of a lead pencil in the groove 44 and prying outwardly.

To assemble the tag holding shelf assembly disclosed in Figs. 1-4, the bracket members 13 are positioned as shown in the openings 12 of the support members 11 The rear molding 25 is then applied to the rear edge of the panel 17 in the manner heretofore described and the price tag molding 30 is applied to the forward edge thereof in a similar manner and as shown in Fig. 3. The panel 17 and the two moldings 25 and 30* are then placed upon the upper supporting surface of the brackets 13 and the brackets are sprung away from each other from the relaxed position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2 beyond the solid line positions shown in the same figure until the abutment elements 21 at the outer ends thereof slip into the elongated recess 33 of the molding strip 30. When the brackets 13 are released, the abutment elements 21 engage the abutting surface 34 of the groove 33 and resiliently clamp the entire assembly into position, with the back side of the molding strip 25 abutting against the vertical surface 10.

It will be readily appreciated that the rigid molding strip 25 lends substantial support to the relatively thin panel member '17. This molding strip 25 however, performs a dual function in that the upstanding portion 27 acts as an abutment to cooperate with the upstanding portion of the molding strip '30 to facilitate binning of the articles to be displayed upon the upper surface 18 of the panel 17'. In other words, glass plates or dividing members which extend forwardly from the upstanding member 27 to the rearward'side of the molding strip 30 maybe utilized' to divide the upper surface 18 trans-7 versely into longitudinally spaced bins. The upstanding element 27 also serves to prevent the articles beingdis: played from sliding rearwardly off the back side of the. panel 17 when the bracket members 13 are supported by support members 11, the latter of whichare supported in a vertical position by some means other than a panel such as the panel 14. For example, in many stores it is common to havev shelf assemblies mounted in a back to back arrangement with the area between the oppositely extending shelf. assemblies open. In. the latter event, the

upstanding member 27 precludes breakage and disarrangement of the articles being displayed.

, From the above it can be readily seen that I have provided a novel and improved tag holding shelf assembly having improved rigidity and strength and capable of being manufactured at low cost. In addition, the assembly provides means for accommodating price tags of different lengths and more effectively precludes lateral slipping of such price tags than the type of price tag molding strips heretofore known.

It will also be noted that the upstanding portion 27 of the molding strip 25 serves an added function in that it tends to preclude the outer portions of the panel 17 and the molding strip 30 from slipping upwardly and disengaging the abutment member 21 of the brackets 13. Thus it is almost impossible for an accidental bumping against the molding strip 30 to cause the molding to disengage the abutment element 21 with resultant breakage and damage both to the shelf and the articles supported thereon.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-locking shelf assembly comprising a vertical surface, a shelf having an upwardly facing supporting surface and having -a rear edge and a forward edge, laterally flexible bracket meansmounted on said vertical surface and extending forwardly thereof in a vertical plane off normal to said surface in supporting relation with said shelf, said bracket means having been flexed toward a vertical plane extending normal to said surface and being prevented from returning to its free position by said shelf and having a forward abutmentnormally" biased rearwardly as a result of the flexing of said bracket means and its prevention from returning to its free position, an elongated rigid channel-shaped molding strip having a shelf edge engaging channel interfitting with the rear edge of said shelf in snug-fitting reinforcing relation and abutting said vertical surface in position between said vertical surface and said rear edge of said shelf, and a second elongated molding strip having a shelf 'edge engaging portion interfitting with the forward edge of said shelf and having forwardly facing tag holding means, said second mentioned molding strip further being provided with abutment means including a forwardly facing surface cooperatively engaged by said rearwardly biased bracket abutment whereby said shelf, bracket means, and molding strips are firmly interlocked and supported in forwardly extending relation to said vertical surface.

2. A self-locking shelf assembly comprising avertical surface, a shelf having an upwardly facing supporting surface and having a rear edge and a forward edge, laterally flexible bracket means mounted on said vertical surface and extending forwardly thereof in a vertical plane off normal to said surface in supporting relation with said shelf, said bracket means having been flexed toward a vertical plane extending normalto said surface and being prevented from returning to its free position by said shelf and having a forward abutment normally biased rearwardly as a result of the flexing of said bracket means and its prevention from returning to its free position, an elongated rigid channel-shaped molding strip having a forwardly facing shelf edge engaging channel interfitting with the rear edge of asid shelf in snug-fitting reinforcing relation and having a flat vertically extending.

back surface abutting against said vertical surface said shelf having an elongated groove extending longitudinally thereof in one of its surfaces and the channel defining portions of said molding strip having a vertically extending flange interfitting in said groove of said shelf and a second elongated molding strip having a rearw'ardly facing shelf edge engaging groove formed therein and tioned molding strip further being provided with abutment means including a forwardly facing surface cooperatively engaged by said rearwardly biased bracket abutment whereby, said shelf, bracket means, and molding strips are firmly interlocked and supported in forwardly extending relation to said vertical surface.

3. A self-locking shelf assembly comprising a vertical surface, a shelf having an upwardly facing supporting surface and having a rear edge and a forward edge, laterally flexible bracket means mounted on said vertical surface and extendingforwardly thereof in its free form in a vertical plane off normal to said surface and extending when not in its free form in supporting relation with said shelf, said bracket means being flexedylaterally off its free form vertical plane and having a molding strip engaging element formed on its forward end which is biased rearwardly as a result of said lateral flexing, an elongated rigid channel member having a shelf edge 1 engaging channel receiving the rear edge; of said shelf therein in snug-fitting reinforcing relation, said channel member abutting said vertical surface in position between said vertical surface and said rear edge of said shelf, and an elongated molding strip having a shelf edge engaging portion engaging the forward edge of said shelf and having forwardly facing tag holding means, said molding strip further being provided with abutment means including a forwardly facing surface cooperatively engaged by said rearwardly biased molding strip engaging element of said'bracket whereby said shelf, bracket means, channel member and molding strip are firmly interlocked and supported in forwardly extending relation to said vertical surface.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said channel member has an upwardly extending abutment element extending above the upwardly facing supporting surface of said shelf and said molding strip extends upwardly of the upper surface of said shelf to cooperatively facilitate binning of articles supported by said supporting surface of saidshelf.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 836,045 Melchior Nov. 13, 1906 2,297,087 Vanderveld Sept. 29, 1942 2,317,192 Hopp Apr.'20, 1943 2,352,100 Hornung June 20, 1944 2,489,089 Grafi Nov. 22, 1949 52,608,777 Schuler Sept. 2, 1952 2,730,825 Wilds Jan. 17, 1956 2,787,382 Williams Apr. 2, 1957 2,815,594 Heselov Dec. 10, 1957 2,833,420 Streater May 6, 1958 "2,856,711 Hobbs Oct. 21, 1958 2,882,625 Hopp Apr. 21, 1959 2,891,680 MacAleese June 23, 1959 2,895,241 1959 Ferdinand July 21, 

